People Stay the Same but Their Reputation Changes Completely

Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 42

People Stay the Same but Their Reputation Changes Completely When the Chinese were needed in California, in order to carry on certain types of occupation, they were welcome there. During that period newspapers and journals referred to them as among “the most worthy of our newly adopted citizens”. “the best immigrants in California”, they were spoken of as thrifty, sober, tractable, inoffensive, law-abiding. This flattering picture prevailed over a considerable period of time, but around 1860, presumably because economic competition had grown much more severe, there was a marked change in the stereotype of the Chinese. The phrases now applied to them included: “a distinct people”, “unassimilable”, “their presence lowered the plane of living” etc. They were spoken of as clannish, criminal, debased, servile, deceitful, and vicious. This startling change can hardly be accounted for by any real modification of the characteristics of the Chinese population of California. The most acceptable explanation is that when it became advantageous to reduce the competition from the Chinese, the stereotype was altered in a direction This sculpture of Lord Kitchener, done by a West African, is another example of the white man seen through the eyes of a coloured race. As in the photograph on page 40, we see a majestic, almost godlike figure, more feared than loved. (Berkeley Galleries, reprod. from Unesco Courier) which would help to justify such action. In this historical case it seems reasonable to conclude that the change in the characteristics ascribed to the Chinese throws doubt on the notion that stereotypes must necessarily contain some truth.